Getting paid collaborations with brands is a major milestone for many influencers and content creators. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your income streams, landing brand deals can boost your credibility and turn your passion into a profession.
Getting paid collaborations with brands is a major milestone for many influencers and content creators. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your income streams, landing brand deals can boost your credibility and turn your passion into a profession. Here’s how to go about it.
Build a strong personal brand
Before brands will pay you, they need to trust what you stand for. That means having a clear niche, consistent aesthetic, and defined values. Whether you’re focused on beauty, fitness, fashion, travel or lifestyle, your brand should feel cohesive across your social media platforms.
Think about:
- Your tone of voice
- Your visual style
- What kind of content you consistently share
The stronger and clearer your brand, the more confident a brand will feel partnering with you.
Grow and engage your audience
You don’t need millions of followers to get paid. In fact, micro-influencers (those with 1,000–100,000 followers) often get more engagement than bigger accounts. Brands are increasingly looking for creators with loyal, engaged communities—people who actually listen to and trust your recommendations.
Focus on:
- Posting consistently
- Engaging with your audience in comments and DMs
- Creating content that sparks conversation or saves/shares
Optimise your profile
Your social media bio should tell people exactly who you are and what you do. Include:
- Your niche or expertise
- A way to contact you (email is ideal)
- A link to your media kit or portfolio
Make sure your feed clearly showcases your work and previous collaborations, if you have any.
Create a media kit
A media kit is like a CV for influencers. It should include:
- Your bio and niche
- Audience demographics (age, location, gender)
- Engagement stats
- Past brand collaborations (if applicable)
- Rates and services you offer
Design it cleanly and keep it updated. You can use tools like Canva to make a professional-looking media kit in minutes.
Reach out to brands directly
You don’t always have to wait for brands to come to you. Pitching directly can work well, especially for smaller or newer creators.
When pitching, keep your email short and personalised. Include:
- Who you are and what you love about the brand
- A content idea or campaign concept
- Links to your best content or portfolio
- Your media kit
Subject line idea: “Collaboration idea from [your name]”
Join influencer platforms
There are platforms that connect influencers with brands looking to run campaigns. Some popular ones in the UK and globally include:
- Tribe
- Aspire
- Influencity
- Brandbassador
- Heepsy
Sign up, create a detailed profile, and apply to campaigns that suit your niche.
Be professional and deliver results
Once you land a paid brand deal, treat it like a business transaction. That means:
- Meeting deadlines
- Following campaign briefs
- Sending analytics reports after posting
- Being communicative and easy to work with
This helps build long-term relationships and increases your chances of repeat work.
Getting paid collaborations takes time, consistency and a bit of outreach. But with a clear brand, engaged audience, and professional approach, you can absolutely start earning through brand partnerships—regardless of your following size.
